ASIA/INDIA - The religious in India between prophecy and mystic

Mangalore (Agenzia Fides) - To be prophets and witnesses in society, among the challenges of modernity, but at the same time be "mystical", men and women of prayer, a sign of the transcendent: is the commitment of the congregations and Indian communities that gathered in the "Conference of the Religious of India", celebrated yesterday, February 3, in Mangalore, "World Day for Consecrated Life." As reported to Fides, over 570 religious and nuns present reflected on the status and challenges of consecrated life, sharing the "identity crisis" that exists in humanity today.
Sister Jessy Merlyn SMMI (Sisters Minor of Mary Immaculate), rapporteur of the day, remarked that the religious are called to rediscover "the prophetic and mystical dimension " and "creative fidelity" to their vocation. Without "submitting to the power of the world", but rediscovering their original charism, and without identifying too much with institutions and organizations. In the service of apostolate, the religious, when engaged in the educational, health care or social field, should not offer a "corporate service", but rather "offer Christ, testifying his presence, especially among those on the margins of society." Sister Merlyn recalled the document "Consecrated Life", defining the religious "gift of God" who, with the profession of the evangelical counsels, make the characteristics of Jesus constantly visible in the world.
Religious life is not a form of self-realization through isolation, but is a call to live in communion with others, building communities of freedom, brotherhood and justice, he added. "Religious life - he concluded - is a deep dive into the world as disciples of Jesus, and with evangelical radicalism." The participants expressed their desire for renewal in "the ministry of the active life," recalling the many challenges of apostolate that India offers: poverty, marginalization, injustice, caste discrimination, abuse of human rights and human dignity, lack of equal opportunities between men and women, difficult access to education. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 04/02/2013)